Northern Michigan University, located in Marquette, Michigan, is a dynamic four-year, public, comprehensive university that has grown its reputation based on its award-winning leadership programs, cutting-edge technology initiatives and nationally recognized academic programs. Northern has a population of about 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

Ask a few Northern students what drew them to our university and you will get a variety of answers. That's because there is no single thing that make students want to go to Northern; it is ALL the things that we do here. Northern is big enough to offer a wide variety of academic programs but is also small enough that every time you walk across campus, you'll probably wave "hi" to someone you know.

Curiosity is the raw ingredient of knowledge. It causes us to ask questions, to seek answers, to learn. At Northern Michigan University, natural curiosity and intellectual challenge meet in stimulating classes grounded in the liberal arts. So wherever your curiosity leads you, you can count on the support you need to take the next step, ask the next question, propose the next hypothesis.

The mission of the Northern Michigan University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, Recreational Sports and the United States Olympic Training Site is to create an environment that promotes academic excellence, interpersonal growth and social development; embraces diversity; teaches lifetime leisure skills; fosters spirit and tradition; and builds a lifelong connection to NMU.

Yes, you'll attend your classes, but what else will you be doing as a student at Northern? There's so much stuff to choose from. There's a student organization or club – almost 300 at last count-- for just about every interest. If you're into investigating the paranormal, anime or improv comedy, there's a group. Cheer on your fellow Wildcats at a hockey game or volleyball match. Join a competitive club sport or an intramural team. The sky is the limit.

Business Students Evaluate Web Sites of Michigan Townships

During fall 2006, students in a computer information systems course conducted a study to assess the effectiveness of a State of Michigan initiative to involve university students to bring local governments on-line via Web sites. In the three month study of the Web sites of 13 representative Michigan townships, students obtained information from township clerks, tabulated and evaluated Web site features, checked for compliance with state guidelines and reviewed existing reporting, documentation and research on the subject. This study was conducted as a service learning component of a course supervised by Professor Sandra Poindexter in the College of Business. The 13 townships studied are Dafter, Greenwood, Howard, James, Jerome, Marathon, Ogemaw, Pennfield, Schoolcraft, Thornapple, Valley, Watertown Charter and Windsor Charter. The study was prepared for the State of Michigan's Department of Information Technology and the Michigan Townships Association.

The study found that, overall, the Web sites were well developed, generally compliant with State guidelines, appreciated by users and contained current information. The study suggested reconsideration of content guidelines, cautions on excessive download time and the need for greater awareness of the Web sites.

The Michigan Local Units of Government Web Site Initiative to put more local governments on-line is a collaborative effort of the Office of Technology Partnerships in the Michigan Department of Information Technology, the Michigan Townships Association and many Michigan-based universities, including Northern Michigan University. Through this Initiative, students develop Web sites for interested townships or cities as service learning under the supervision of faculty. Since 2004, under this Initiative, university students have created the Web sites for 37 Michigan townships.